The only way for you to experience a moment of the magic of the music I am listening to right now, is for you to listen to a YouTube video of the artist, Gurrumul, making his exquisite music. But that will not be quite the same, for I am listening to the CD that comes with this gorgeous book by Robert Hillman, and every track seems more haunting than the last… It is, the blurb tells me, an exclusive CD of remixed songs from his bestselling albums ′Gurrumul′ and ′Rrakala′ featuring rare remixes of the songs ′Bäpa′ and ′Gurrumul History (I was Born Blind)′ and ′Warwu′. (The music was recorded by Skinnyfish Music, a Darwin-based company which records and promotes the work of Indigenous musicians.)

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupinguin Galiwin’ku is a Yolnu man. He comes from Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island), off the coast of Arnhem Land, not far from Darwin. Born blind in 1969, he plays drums, keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, but it’s his singing that has made the world sit up and take notice. He has a glorious voice, and he sings in the languages of his Yolnu clan: Galpu, Gumatj,and Djambarrpuynu, and in English. He used to perform with Yothu Yindi, but then with Saltwater Band. These days he performs solo.

A big, ‘coffee table’ book, this biography by Robert Hillman is a music lover’s delight.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2016/07/05/gurrumul-his-life-and-music-by-robert-hillma... ( )